Exeter City 1-1 Morecambe

Adam Lord

Jayden Stockley’s late penalty denied Morecambe all three points at Exeter on Saturday.

The Shrimps had gone in front on 85 minutes through Kevin Ellison’s thumping finish before a controversial conclusion at St James Park.

The visitors had seen two earlier penalty appeals waved away and seemed to be heading for a first win in six games.

But having originally signalled for a corner referee Darren Drysdale took some advice from an assistant and pointed the spot on 89 minutes after Christian Ribeiro’s header hit Lee Molyneux’s arm.

Stockley cared not and scored his third goal of the season against The Shrimps to level things up late on.

It was a disappointing conclusion for the 114 away fans but the performance represented a marked improvement for Jim Bentley’s side who had shipped 11 goals in their previous two games, defeats to Cambridge and Stevenage.

After a scrappy opening Exeter warmed to the task at hand in the Devon sunshine.

First Andy Parrish was needed to block a Jayden Stockley header before Lee Holmes fired narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Barry Roche was then on hand to help Stockley’s shot from 20 yards round the post as the hosts pressed.

The Shrimps felt they should have had a penalty shortly after the quarter hour but referee Drysdale waved away the appeals as Shaun Miller went down under challenge from Troy Brown.

The struggling visitors were improving, Adam Dugdale heading over a Jamie Devitt corner when he should have tested Bobby Olejnik.

It was an even game though with Exeter having the best of the chances, Roche diving low to his right to get a hand on Holmes’ shot just before the half hour.

Large parts of the half were scrappy though with the game at times having a distinctly end of season feel.

The second spot kick claim came five minutes after the interval, Drysdale again not interested after Lee Molyneux’s cross appeared to be helped back to Olejnik by the arm of Christian Ribeiro.

Aaron Wildig then had The Shrimps’ best chance just before the hour mark but could only slice wide on his left foot 12 yards out after being found by a Devitt pass.

Stockley missed a golden opportunity for the Grecians 11 minutes from time, planting a free header from a Jake Taylor cross wide.

The Shrimps got their noses in front five minutes from time.

Substitute Cole Stockton broke in on the right side of the area and pulled back for Ellison to hammer home from 12 yards.

Exeter were level in the 89th minute from the penalty spot. A corner was originally awarded when Ribeiro’s header hit the arm of Molyneux. But after a long consulation with assistant Paul Thompson referee Drysdale pointed to the spot to the anger of the Morecambe players.

Stockley stepped up and made no mistake, sending Roche the wrong way from 12 yards to ensure the game ended honours even.